Risk of suicide in neurological wards: Assessment and interventions

Petra Ott- Ordelheide, Rüdiger Noelle

Abstract

Nurses in every ward of hospitals have contact to persons who are at risk of suicide. The article focuses on patients in neurologic wards. Based on an analysis of relevant literature and evaluation of biographies of patients importance will be demonstrated. There after follows a definition of significant terms and their integration into the practical nursing process.

Result: The identification of patients with risk of suicide might be difficult, but the perception of transference and countertransference includes the possibility for nurses and patients to find out the right way of communication, interventions and security.

Nurses in every ward of hospitals have contact to persons who are at risk of suicide.

Nurses often remember patients with this risk, because they often need special interventions. Emotional aspects are very important for nurses and patients, when they have suicide thoughts during their stay in hospital.

In some cases patients need time for convalescence of multiple sclerosis or in case of a stroke, they need diagnostic intervention.

Patients with neurological problems are more often than other groups of patients confronted with years of risk of suicide. The following article focuses on this group of people and the possibilities of nurses to assess, to intervene and to evaluate.

In the past years Nursing science developed a variety of methods interventions, measuring instruments and guidelines for patients at risk of suicide in psychiatric hospitals. For staff in psychiatric hospitals the management often implements support for nurses who are confronted with suicide and risk of suicide. The article discusses these methods and support for patients with neurological problems and nursing staff on neurology wards.